The Lagos State Government on Wednesday unveiled fresh
Joint Security Task Force to end traffic congestion and security threat in
Apapa Central Business District arising from the uncontrollable activities of
tankers, trailers and trucks.
The state government also disclosed its plan to
fully enforce the 2012 Lagos Road Traffic Law, thereby directing officers of
the state Police Command and other security agencies in the state to enforce
the law.
These are parts of the decision made at the Security
Council meeting held at the State House, Ikeja, yesterday under the
chairmanship of the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.
The council meeting was attended by the state
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal: Commander of Ikeja Cantonment, Brig
Gen. Elias Attu; Commander of NNS Beecroft, Commodore Murrice Ansa Eno, and Executive
Secretary of the state Security Trust fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdulrazaq Balogun,
among others.
Edgal, who addressed journalists after the meeting,
said the new task force comprising officials of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria
Armed Forces, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Federal
Road Safety Commission (FRSC) would immediately be deployed to the axis to
ensure sanity and contain any potential security threat.
Edgal said while the issues that gave rise to the
gridlock were being addressed, the task force would ensure that the roads in
the axis were not totally locked down, and also prevent criminal elements from
taking advantage of the gridlock to perpetrate their nefarious activities.
He said: “We deliberated extensively on the Apapa
gridlock. With immediate effect, the governor has approved the reconstitution
of a joint task force to ensure that while the major problems that gave rise to
that situation in the first instance are being tackled, we will ensure that we
have a good semblance of decency on our roads.
“We will ensure that we create a corridor for
smaller vehicles and ensure that there is no complete blockade to free flow of
traffic. We will also have plain cloth and uniformed security agencies ensuring
that there is no crime in the axis due to the traffic gridlock.”
The commissioner assured residents that every
necessary arrangement had been made to ensure peaceful yuletide season, noting
that the council also approved increased visibility and patrol in all parts of
the state, especially in areas there are traffic gridlock as a result of
construction activities.
Edgal disclosed that due to increased patrol, about
35 notorious traffic robbers were recently arrested in Ilupeju and Oshodi axis,
many of whom he said are ex-convicts and would soon be charged to court at the
end of investigation.
He said there had been about 35 per cent drop in
issues of residential robberies as a result of the community policing and
community safety partnership strategy adopted by the Lagos Police Command.
According to him, while more boats had been handed
over to Marine Police by the state government to secure the waterways and
riverine areas especially to checkmate incursions by militants and secure
schools in such areas, in addition to the tactic guards already formed.
On the traffic law, the commissioner noted that
security agencies in the State “have been given marching orders to strictly
enforce the traffic law, and that no lawlessly or breakdown of law and order
would be condoned.”
He urged all motorists and transport unions “to
impress it on their members to obey traffic laws. Commercial motorcycle
operators must not only refrain from restricted routes, but also use helmets
both for rider and passenger and not carry more than one person at a time,
among other rules of engagement.
“We have the Lagos State Traffic Law and it is our
responsibility to enforce the law. Motorists, motorcyclists and other form of
road users must obey the law. Our men have been mandated to enforce all aspects
of the law not only prohibition along some routes but also those aspects that
have to do with safety.
“We do not want officers and men to be challenged
unduly when they are enforcing the law. I urge all the unions to call their
members to cooperate with the police. They should not form themselves into
pressure and riotous groups to challenge the police and other security
agencies.”
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